Agapanthus plant named ‘Benfran’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Agapanthus  cultivar named ‘Benfran’ is disclosed, characterized by a very short plant form, strong clump formation and an average of at least 5 flowering stems during the flowering season. The new variety is an  Agapanthus , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis.

Variety denomination: ‘Benfran’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a spontaneous, whole plant mutation of the unpatented variety Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis ‘Peter Pan’ by the inventor, Frank Benson. The new variety was found in a commercial planting of ‘Peter Pan’ in a nursery in Pallara, Australia. Originally 3 shorter plants were observed in the commercial planting of ‘Peter Pan.’ In 2004 a single plant was selected, which is the new cultivar ‘Benfran.’

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Benfran’ by tissue culture was first performed in a commercial laboratory in Dodges Ferry, Tasmania Australia, during 2004, and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Benfran’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Benfran’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Benfran’ as a new and distinct Agapanthus cultivar:

-   -   1. Distinctive flower light violet to white flower coloration     -   2. Very compact plant size.     -   3. Strong clump formation.     -   4. Production of an average of at least 5 flowering scapes         continuously during flowering season.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Benfran’ are similar to plants of the parent variety, Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis ‘Peter Pan’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Benfran’ are shorter and produce more flowering stems than the parent variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new Agapanthus are best compared to the parent variety, as it is the most similar commercial Agapanthus to ‘Benfran.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typical plants of ‘Benfran’ and ‘Peter Pan’ grown outdoors in New South Wales, Australia, during Spring and Summer, in approximately 15 cm nursery pots. Age of the plants photographed are approximately 2 years from a tissue culture planetlet.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Benfran’ plants grown outdoors in New South Wales, Australia The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 26° C. during the day and approximately 14° C. to 19° C. at night. The plants were not grown with any kind of shade protection and subject to outdoor, high light conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. No growth retardants were used.

-   Botanical classification: Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis     ‘Benfran.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 30 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Typical Agapanthus root, freely branching and     white-brown in color. -   Propagation method: Vegetative divisions or tissue culture.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Clump forming. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years. -   Container size: Approximately 20 cm. -   Height: Approximately 27 cm to top of highest leaf. Approximately 38     cm to top of highest inflorescence. -   Plant spread: Approximately 22 cm. -   Growth rate: Slow. -   Branching characteristics: Non-branching, forms basal clumps.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Basal, irregular whorls.         -   Average length.—Approximately 30 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Linear.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.         -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Approximately 60.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.         -   Venation.—Type: Linear. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 138A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 138A.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Naturally flower summer through late     Autumn. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Scapose with single campanulate     flower; flowers arranged in umbels on erect scapes. -   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 1 week from bud to fully     opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: At least 25 days, after fully opened.     Self cleaning. -   Quantity of flowers: Plants have approximately 8 open flowers per     inflorescence at all times and approximately 12 buds. Average 5     flowering scapes per plant. -   Umbel inflorescence size:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 12 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Arrangement.—Apetalous, single, campanulate flowers composed             of 6 basally fused tepals, shaped into a flared trumpet.         -   Size.—Length: Approximately 3.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.6             cm at widest point. Lobe length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Lobe             width: 0.4 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate, strongly concave while maturing, opening             to become reflexed back.         -   Apex.—Obtuse, concave.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Color:     -   -   Tepals.—When opening: Outer surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue             92B with Violet-Blue 92D and White N155A. Inner surface:             Near RHS Violet-Blue 92B with Violet-Blue 92D and White             N155A.         -   Fully opened.—Outer surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 92B with             Violet-Blue 92D and White N155A. Inner surface: Near RHS             Strong mid vein of Violet-Blue 92B with Violet-Blue 92D and             White N155A. Color changes when aging: No color change.         -   Bud.—Shape: Ovate to Lanceolate. Length: Approximately             2.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.7 cm. Color: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 92B. -   Sepals: Not Present. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 4.8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Aspect.—Straight.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143B.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Scape:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 30 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Angle.—Upright from center of plant, very straight.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143A.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average 6.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS 92D.         -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.         -   Anther color.—Tip Near RHS Yellow-Orange 15D, lower near RHS             Greyed-Purple 186A.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Pollen.—Scant.         -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 7A. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.         -   Style color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 92D.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Violet-Blue 92A.         -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Agapanthus have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately 0-1     C to 40°C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Agapanthus plant named ‘Benfran’ as herein illustrated and described. 